How To Host an Online Web Show

There are web shows on cooking, politics, cars, crafts, humor, and you might have something to offer on your own topic. Have you thought about hosting your own web show? If you have, there are things you should consider and steps you can take to make it happen.

Step 1: Determine Your Niche

First, examine what it is you have to offer? Are you articulate about current affairs? Science? Movies? What you have to offer is only part of what’s necessary. Next, examine the market. Are there 20 other shows that already talk about your topic? If there are, your show may be unnecessary. However, if you do fill a niche – if your show is unique – the last thing to consider is whether you have enough to say about it. If your idea is unique and you have enough to sustain it (probably 6 episodes worth is a good place to start), then you should consider hosting your own web.

Step 2: Gather Your Team

You’ll need a crew and (probably) some cast beside yourself. You may direct yourself, but it’s useful to have someone objective to watch the overall picture for you. Get a good cinematographer; he will be responsible for the look of your show. A seasoned editor will make sure your show is well-paced, and round out your crew with wardrobe, makeup and production assistants. If there are guests or other people you’ll need to talk to on the show, you’ll need to cast them too.

Step 3: Shoot It

Schedule a date, find a location, make sure your cast and crew are available, and shoot it. You’ll probably over-shoot, but that’s something you can fix in editing. You’ll find it’s more convenient to shoot several webisodes on one date, just changing wardrobe between webisodes. If a take doesn’t go just right, shoot it again. Your audience will only see the take you give them. Be sure you get everything you’ll need at the shoot for your editing.

Step 4: Cut It Down

Sit down with your editor to make sure exactly what you want. If you want most of your talk in medium close-up’s, make sure the editor knows that. If you want to cut back and forth between you and your interview subject, make sure the editor knows. Where a cinematographer determines your look, an editor determines your pace. Find out the time restraints for the venue where you’ll be showing your web show, and make sure you fit it within their parameters. Don’t forget titles and credits. They can be simple, or they can be elaborate. You determine that.

Step 5: Air It

Once your show is finished, upload it to your venue. You can cross promote it on the web, and you can use your current webisode to offer “coming attractions” of the next one. That leads your audience to anticipate your how and look forward to it!